Our First Looks: The Exclusive New Delta One Check-In Lounge at LAX and Additional Baggage Drop Area!

A brand new Delta One check-in lounge at LAX — complete with a dedicated TSA security checkpoint and entry to the fantastic Sky Club airport lounge — opens on Wednesday, June 1. Delta invited us to look at the new features before they’re unveiled to the public.

Plus, Delta expanded its headhouse — creating more self-serve baggage drops that hopefully will alleviate some congestion.

Come and check them out with us!

Delta’s LAX Sky Way

We’ve written about Delta Air Lines’ massive investments at airports across the nation — especially at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

LAX is of particular interest to us for a couple of reasons. First, it’s long been an outdated airport in dire need of upgrades to bring it into the 20th century (yes, I wrote the 20th century. 🙂 ) But LAX is one of my home airports. When I fly Delta, it’s almost always from LAX.

Delta has spent the past six years developing and constructing its Sky Way project, which involved moving its operations from Terminal 5 to Terminals 2 and 3.

Delta opened up its Terminal 3 digs last year. A brand new Sky Club debuted shortly before Delta opened the terminal’s new gates.

Delta says its airside (post-security) walkway from T3 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) will open in August 2024. That’s one of the final pieces to the grand project — scheduled to open 18 months ahead of schedule.

The New Delta One Check-In Lounge

Since opening T3 last year, the airline has operated a temporary Delta One check-in lounge on the terminal’s departure level.

Where is the New Delta One Check-In Lounge at LAX?

However, the new Delta One check-in lounge is on the airport’s arrivals level. You’ll find it toward the end of T3, between pillars 3F and 3G.

That’ll afford extra privacy for high-profile customers (i.e., celebrities).

Livery companies are technically prohibited from dropping off customers on the arrivals level. But Delta is working with premium services — including Lyft Lux Black, etc. — to try and get them access to the more restricted areas.

However, for those of us who aren’t famous but occasionally find ourselves in Delta One but take Uber or Lyft to LAX, that means getting dropped off at the departure level and then taking an escalator (or elevator) down to the lounge (if we choose the option). #FirstWorldProblems, I know. 🙂 (If a private person — i.e., family member, friend, colleague, etc. drives you to LAX, you might get away with them dropping you off on the pick-up island. Be prepared for a talking-to from the airport police.)

The 52-person capacity lounge is open daily from 4:30 AM to 11:00 PM.

Not Just for Delta One Passengers

Obviously, Delta One passengers can access the lounge to check in and drop off their luggage.

But Delta 360 members may also use the lounge — regardless of which cabin class in which they travel that day. (Though, I doubt Basic Economy is eligible.)

Inside the LAX Delta One Check-in Lounge

This is a far, far, far cry from the Delta One check-in cubicles of yore.

The above picture is from the old T2 days. I used that lounge a couple of times — and it was nice. It was great to quickly check bags — and grab a granola bar and water.

But the new lounge is something special.

The digs are very nice — and fully enclosed, unlike the T2 location or temporary T3 Delta One check-in that might be closed when you read this.

But here’s the thing: how much time do people actually spend in these check-in lounges? If it’s busy and you want to wait for the crowd to thin, it’s nice to sit and chill. But I never waited for more than, like, a minute for my bags to get checked at the old T2 location.

That said, there are several quick bites and drinks options available. Pastries, fruit, chips, and nuts were offered during our visit.

Beverage-wise, there are sodas, juices, and water.

Champagne lovers may enjoy a glass of Veuve du Vernay.

Then you’ll stroll through this hallway which features some artwork — including these shelves.

I especially loved the Marshall head unit.

There are two unisex bathrooms.

Then you encounter one of the lounge’s more impressive features: a dedicated TSA security checkpoint with PreCheck and standard security screening options. (Seriously. If you’re a Delta One passenger, how do you not already have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck?)

I’m not going to lie: I was surprised there’s no CLEAR option. Yes, the security waits in this lounge will, presumably, be very limited. But given that Delta holds a stake in the company, this practically seems like a wasted opportunity.

You might want to bring a drink and snack from that buffet. The Delta One check-in lounge at LAX features Analogic machines that take forever to scan your bags. (I assure you: you’re not alone if one of the first things that popped out to you was “Anal,” and you giggled.)

Once you clear security, it’s off to the Delta Sky Club a few levels higher.

A dedicated Delta One lounge (so Delta One customers don’t have to mingle with First Class, Premium Select, and coach mortals 🙂 ) will open sometime next year. That 10,000-ish square foot club will feature a la carte dining.

The dedicated security line and quick access to the Sky Club really make the Delta One experience (or 360 status) very appealing.

Added Check-In Areas

One of the things that frequently struck me during peak travel times (holidays, busy summer travel, etc.) was how full and, well, kind of chaotic things got in Terminal 3. Lines were everywhere, the Sky Priority self-tagging bagging check queue snaked every which way.

But some of that congestion will hopefully be alleviated with the opening of several new kiosks and self-serve baggage drop stations in the new west headhouse toward TBIT.

Delta uses T3’s third-floor gate and TSA level for a new self-service check-in and baggage drop-off.

This level is where LAX’s Automated People Mover will be accessible when that project is completed sometime this year(?!).

You can access this area toward the end of T3 — just before TBIT. You need to take the elevators or escalators up to the “Security Checkpoint” and “All Gates” level.

There are a bunch of kiosks to help you print boarding passes. You can also fulfill your dreams of playing airline employee by printing luggage tags and dropping off your bags.

This is pretty cool. Eventually, customers can scan their boarding passes and verify their identities via biometrics.

Once you’re finished, proceed toward the “All Gates” area — and you’re on your way.

These features were shown off during a ceremony on Wednesday morning attended by Delta executives and some Los Angeles city government representatives.

Other Delta Debuts at LAX

We wrote this past weekend about new seating coming to the Sky Club — both inside and outside.

Those areas open on June 1, as well.

A Delta representative said the carrier plans to improve Terminal 2. Certainly, nothing as drastic as the Terminal 3 demo and rebuild. But a few cosmetic updates here and there.

Final Approach

As a fairly regular Delta passenger who flies out of LAX, I’m very impressed with the airline’s modernization projects at the airport many of us love to hate.

The new Delta One check-in lounge is very impressive — and truly elevates the airline’s premium experience.

Delta Air Lines invited us to this event. We were not compensated for our attendance. (Chris did, however, accept a bottle of water in the Delta One lounge 🙂 ). Delta provided us with a discount code for Lyft rides to/from LAX. We paid drivers’ tips out of pocket. At no time did Delta ask for editorial control, special favors, or insist on any content inclusions or exclusions.